Hello! I'm Alex Acuna, a fifth-year student pursuing a BS in Biology with a Cell and Molecular emphasis and minors in Chemistry and African American Studies. I was born in Venezuela and have lived in Salt Lake most of my life. I currently do pediatric cardiology genetics research in Dr. Martin Tristani-Firouzi's lab where I use molecular biological processes to investigate the genetic basis of Familial Atrial Fibrillation. My passions include social and environmental justice, family, and exploring new places.

Hi everyone! My name is Anna, and I am from Salt Lake City, Utah. Currently, I am double majoring in Biology and World Languages, and I'm minoring in Chinese and Chemistry. At the Natural History Museum, I also work as a research assistant in Dr. Dentinger's mycology (fungi) lab. In the future, I hope to become a dermatologist. I am a sunscreen/SPF fanatic and would love to “spread” sunscreen propaganda. In my natural environment, I can be found reading fantasy novels, taking care of my many plants/ needy cats, and baking the world's best "mall" pretzels.

Hi, I'm Audrey! I'm majoring in the Honors College in Physics (with a comprehensive emphasis), Mathematics, and Philosophy of Science. I am currently conducting research in condensed matter physics on superconductors and material properties at extreme conditions with Shanti Deemyad. I am also a Supreme Court Justice for the school and work to keep university operations centered on equity and compassion. Outside of my studies, I play piano, organ and guitar, run a small painting commission business, and cook for my many roommates and friends! I plan on pursuing a PhD after I complete my undergrad and am always happy to share my passions. Feel free to contact me or say hi if you see me on campus! 😀

Hi everyone! My name is Brian and I am from Nampa, Idaho. I am a third year studying biochemistry here at the U. My hope is to go to medical school after I finish at the U. Outside of studying, I have worked as an LA for the Math department, worked for the Union Programming Council as an Associate Director and now the Director of Development, worked as an orientation leader, volunteered at the Feed U Pantry, and I am working as a Resident Advisor. In my free time I love weightlifting, playing basketball, and cooking.

Hello! My name is Catherine and I was born and raised in Utah. I am studying Chemistry and English and am currently working as a research assistant with the Department of Biomedical Informatics. In the future, I am hoping to pursue a career in either education or mental health care, which are both areas that I feel passionate about. Outside of school, I can often be found playing the piano, reading, or quilting.

My name is Gabe Brown. I am an Environmental Biology Major with a passion for film and storytelling. I am minoring in Documentary Film Studies with the hope of combining my love for conservation with my passion for storytelling to communicate scientific ideas to the public. In addition to my film studies, I am also a member of the Human-Wildlife Coexistence Lab with Austin Green. We use camera trapping technology in urban and wildlife areas to examine human impacts on native wildlife. I am very passionate about finding ways we can better exist within our global ecosystem and preserving the natural beauty all around us. I'm always happy to chat about science, films, books, and anything else nerdy or pop culture.

Hello! My name is Jaxson Carr and I am from Draper, Utah! I am majoring in Physics with a Biomedical emphasis. After completing my undergraduate B.S. I plan on applying to medical school and working toward my dream of becoming an Interventional Radiologist. I work at Shriners Hospital for Children as a Medical Assistant, and I also work in Cameron Metcalf's lab at the College of Pharmacy where we are working to develop seizure medications. Some of my hobbies include kayaking, hiking, spending time outdoors, reading, and watching movies. If you ever see me walking around campus please come say hi!

Hi, I'm Manny! I am a third-year student double-majoring in Mathematics with a Statistics emphasis and Spanish and double minoring in Computer Science and Latin American Studies. I'm from Logan - Utah, but I spent most of my childhood in Mexico. Besides working with the College of Science, I also work as a University Ambassador for the Office of Admissions. I also work as an Ambassador for the College of Engineering. Lastly, I am an RA for one of the residence halls here on campus. I don’t really have free time, but when I do, I love spending time taking care of my plants, cooking, and sculpting. If you ever see me walking alone or giving a tour, don't be afraid to say hi! 🙂

Hi there! My name is Matt Wilcox, and I'm from Martinez, California. I'm pursuing a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. After graduation, I will attend medical school to earn an M.D. specializing in oncology. I'm lucky to have had such unique experiences here at the U. Currently, I am an athlete on the University of Utah swim & dive team and specialize in breaststroke. Between training and school, I love to play guitar, cook, watch movies, spend time with friends and family, and meet new people. If you see me around say hey!

Howdy! My name is Nash Ward, I'm an nth year math and physics double major here at the U! You can always find me doing something winter related whether it's sea ice research or sending down the slopes! I'm hoping to get a PhD after I graduate and maybe one day looking down at earth through a small window in space. If you see me on campus make sure to say hi!

Hello! I'm Savannah Romney, and I am from Draper, Utah! I am pursuing a Biology HBS with an emphasis in Genetics and Genomics. In the future, I plan on applying to medical school with aspirations of becoming an OB/GYN. I am in the ACCESS Scholars program and I conduct research in Professor Sandy Parkinson's genetics and molecular biology lab. I love to play golf, hike, and spend time on the beach! I also enjoy reading, crocheting, and spending time with my friends and family.

Hey! My name is Alexa and I'm a junior pursuing my HBS in Biology with emphases in Genetics and Genomics and a minor in Chemistry. I'm also a TA in the biology department, and am researching in the English lab. After graduation, I hope to work towards my MS or Ph.D. to contribute to inheritable disease research or the pharmacogenomics field. I am originally from Southern California, but I moved to Utah, where snowboarding stole my heart. Besides studying and hitting the slopes, I love weightlifting, archery, and kickboxing! If you ever see me around, say hi!

Hi! My name is Anna Page and I'm from Draper, Utah. I'm currently pursuing a major in Honors Biology with an emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I am currently a research assistant in Dr. Ryan Looper's organic medicinal chemistry lab, researching the synthesis of natural products and studying their potential to be new antibiotics. I also am involved with the College of Science as an ACCESS Scholar. After my undergraduate studies, I hope to attend medical school to become a hematologist oncologist. In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, reading, and spending days at the lake.

I'm Autumn Hartley, and I'm a Geoscience major here at the U! I have a passion for science as I have a passion for learning, and I'm very involved with undergraduate research. I'm originally from Midway, Utah, but I moved to Salt Lake City when I started school here. I've become involved in a lot of different organizations including oSTEM, which connects LGBTQ+ students in STEM. Outside of academia, I love all things artistic. I'm a writer, graphic designer, and a character designer when I'm not in the lab!

Hey!! My name is Brooke Stromberg and I'm from Sandy, Utah. I am majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Genetics and Genomics and minoring in Chemistry. Besides being a College of Science Ambassador I also work as a University Ambassador at the Office of Admissions. After my undergraduate degree, I hope to attend graduate school and complete a program in Genetic Counseling. In my free time, I love camping, traveling, skiing, and rock climbing.

I'm Delaney Miller, and I am pursuing a degree in biochemistry with an honors integrated minor in ecology. I am a research assistant in the Minteer laboratory which focuses on electrochemical and sustainability research. I am also a part of the U of U American Chemical Society Executive Council and am a General Chemistry teaching assistant. This has fostered a passion for teaching and making science more accessible. I enjoy traveling and have learned so much through my study of Spanish in Spain. I'm excited to continue my international travels by researching ecology in Kenya in the future. Additionally, I love writing, running, and creating music whenever I have the chance.

Hi! My name is Halle Schwarzhoff. I will be going into my senior year in Fall 2023 studying Atmospheric Sciences with an emphasis on Snow and Water Sciences. I also am in the process of getting my Climate Change certificate. I'm from Boise, Idaho, and I love all things outdoors. I was drawn to the U for its skiing, hiking, beautiful views, and great campus involvement. Some of the activities I'm involved in include: Trash Club, MUSS, and Chi Omega Sorority.

Heyo! My name is Jessica Dickinson, and I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I am majoring in Chemistry with a professional emphasis and a Physics minor. After college, I want to work in the pharmaceutical or energy industry and pursue a master's in chemistry. I am involved in WOLI, Backcountry Squatter, One Love Ski and Snowboard club, and ACS. I am also a ski instructor at Brighton Ski and Snowboard School, so needless to say, I love the outdoors 🙂 I also love backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, reading, and making art. If you see me on campus, come say hi!

Hey! I'm Marcus Tanner, and I'm from Draper, Utah. I'm currently a sophomore at the U majoring in Physics with an emphasis in Astronomy/Astrophysics, and am also a mentor in the Physics Department's new PANDA Network program. If I'm not hiking out in the boonies, you'll probably find me playing guitar or buried in a book of some sort. After I graduate, I want to go to grad school and work with NASA on their New Frontiers program. Don't be afraid to say hi if you spot me on campus!

Hi everyone! My name is Matthew Cheng and I am from the bay area in California. I am a third-year Biology major on a pre-dentistry track. I hope to one day make it to dental school and open my own practice! I currently work at the University of Utah hospital as an HCA, work in a research lab, and TA. In my free time, I love to go out with friends and go to the gym. Excited to be a College of Science Ambassador! Come say hi if you ever see me on campus.

Hello! My name is Rachel and I am from Lehi, Utah. I am pursuing an honors double major in Biochemistry and Biomedical Physics with a minor in Math. I also work as a research assistant in Dr. Minteer’s electrochemistry lab here at the U. My current project focuses on optimizing deamination reaction cascades and I’m excited to learn more about electrochemistry and sustainability! After graduating, I plan to work towards an MD/PhD so I can continue in research while also working in the medical field. In my free time, I love to go on long runs, read, and spend time outdoors!

Hey everybody! My name is Sydney, and I'm currently a second-year student. I'm currently double-majoring in Biology - Emphasis in Genomics/Genetics and Anthropology - Emphasis in Cultural Studies, with a minor in Medical Humanities. I am currently working in the Holmen Lab at Huntsman Cancer Institute, studying the TIMP1 gene in attempt to regress tumor growth in metastatic melanoma. I am fully committed to my childhood dream of becoming a Hepatobiliary surgeon and wish to work with research institutions and hospitals to further understand various genetic mutations; specifically Turners syndrome and its increased presence in kidney/liver transplants. In my free time I am competing in USA Olympic Recurve Archery, unraveling the marvels of DNA, skiing, and hiking!

Hi there, I'm Anika! I'm from Peoria, Illinois, and I am currently a junior studying Neurobiology with minors in global health, bioethics, and chem. I participate in neuropsychology research at the Suchi lab, and I participated in the SRI my freshman year. When I'm not studying or in the lab, I can usually be found in the gym, skiing, or playing guitar. After undergrad, I hope to get an MD in Psychiatry or a PsyD.

Hey! My name is Annabelle and I'm from West Jordan, UT. I'm currently working on my H.B.S. studying Biology with an Emphasis in Anatomy and Physiology and minoring in Disability Studies. Post-grad, I hope to attend medical school and work in geriatrics, primarily interested in focusing on degenerative diseases. In the College of Science, I've worked as a TA. Outside of this, I stay active on campus by volunteering at Connect2Health with the University of Utah hospital and being an Honors first-year peer mentor. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, hiking, hammocking, watching movies, and spending time with friends.

Hi! My name is Beata and I am currently a junior here at the U studying Material Science and Engineering with a minor in Chemistry! I'm interested in pursuing research in polymer synthesis and hope to work for a company like DPS, Specialized, or Black Diamond after graduation to work on their materials development team! I'm big into backcountry skiing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and slowly attempting to get into crocheting lol if you ever see me around come say what's up!

Hi there! My name is Caroline Keller, and I am from Millcreek, Utah. Here at the U, I am a junior pursuing a Biology degree with an emphasis in Genetics. After I earn my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend grad school to get a PhD. I am very passionate about research and my dream job is to open a lab of my own one day! I am very fortunate to do research at the Bruce Edgar lab, where I study the signalling effects of sex hormones in the proliferation of epithelial cells in the Drosophila intestine. I also had the opportunity to work in the Nitin Phadnis lab studying the hybrid incompatibility system of Drosophila pseudoobscura with the goal of locating and characterizing more genes that cause hybrid male sterility. Outside of the College of Science, you can find me on the mountain skiing, climbing, or participating in greek life events with my sorority sisters.

Hi! I'm Dua and I'm a born and raised Utahn from Draper. I am majoring in Honors Physics on the biomedical emphasis, and currently conducting neuroscience research at the Caron Lab. During my undergraduate years here at the U, I intend to tie my education and research together towards an MD/PhD, in order to specialize in neurology. Along with the sciences, I love the arts, especially film and photography. So if you don't see me in the lab, you'll most likely see me making something with a camera!

Hi! My name is Hanna Pucheu-Okamura. I come from a Mexican-Dominican background with French and Japanese descent. I'm going to be a third-year student in Fall 2022 pursuing an Applied Mathematics major with a Computer Science minor. In the future, I hope to do research and work with institutions such as health and medicine and education, in order to benefit them and the minorities who struggle in the community. In my free time I like to travel, go out bachata dancing, perform pretend concerts alone in my car, and visit friends and family back home. I am so excited to be a College of Science Ambassador!

Hey everyone! My name is Krish Kotak & I am from Hurricane, Utah. I am currently a freshman pursuing a major in chemistry with an emphasis in mathematics. I plan on attending medical school for a MD/PHD degree after undergrad. Outside of studying, I work as a math tutor at the math lab. In my free time I love to swim, read, play video games, and watch movies. I hope you guys have been enjoying your time at the U & don’t be afraid to come and say hi if you spot me on campus.

Hi there! I'm Margaret and I am double majoring in environmental geoscience and atmospheric science. I am also currently doing research in Professor Pete Lippert's lab working on an air quality monitoring project. I am passionate about the environment, climate science, and science communication. I'm also a participant in the College of Science's ACCESS Scholars program and a Crocker Science House Scholar. If I'm not in class or working on lab work, you can usually find me reading a good book or looking at cool rocks. I'd love to meet you so please say hi!

Hi everyone! My name is Merrin and I'm from Sandy, UT. I'm working towards an H.B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology and a minor in History. After graduating from the U, I plan on pursuing an MD and specializing in neuro-oncology. I currently work in the Olivera Lab, where I focus on characterizing conotoxins, or neurotoxic peptides isolated from cone snails. Outside of the COS, I am a member of the JRP Debate Society here at the U, the Social Service Director for Phi Sigma Rho, and involved with ASUU. In my free time, I love hiking, making (terrible) biology puns, painting, and listening to music! Reach out with any questions about the COS, biology, etc... or if you need to hear a bad science joke.

Hello! My name is Riley and I'm a super-senior studying Computational Physics and Linguistics with a minor in Math! I love learning languages, and I am currently studying French, Japanese, and Italian. I plan to move to Japan after graduation to teach English before heading to graduate school for Computational Linguistics. I'm currently working at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations with the machine learning team to model seismic data and learn more about the earthquakes that affect our community. I love the outdoors, and have recently discovered mushroom hunting as a great excuse to explore the mountains, in addition to hiking and snowboarding. I love meeting new people and talking to others, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about my experience here at the U!

Hi! I’m Anna, and my intended major is biochemistry. After I get my bachelor’s, I plan to go to graduate school for a PhD in biology so that I can continue doing research and, maybe, teach. I am currently working in the Hollien biology lab, with the Huntingtin protein to determine how different glutamine lengths are degraded within the cell. In my free time, I love to read and snowboard.

Hello World! My name is Arnel, I am from Salt Lake, and I am a junior at the University of Utah. I am a first generation college student and American majoring in honors chemistry with an emphasis in biology. Much of my out of class time is spent in the lab as an undergraduate researcher at the Bischak Lab in the Department of Chemistry. I am currently working with electropolymerized polymers for use in organic mixed conductors! I am also a Co-Founder and the Administrative Director of the "InfectED" club on campus, where we aim to educate underrepresented communities about infectious diseases and science in general. After graduating, I plan on pursuing an MD-PhD program.

Hello! My name is Brian and I'm from southern California. I'm currently majoring in Biology with an Anatomy emphasis and a Chemistry minor with dreams of going to medical school and becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. Currently, I work as a restaurant server a couple days a week while focusing on school and my social life. I love be out in social settings, being active, and bringing communities together to achieve a greater purpose.

Hello! My name is Carson Sautter and I am a 3rd year working towards a B.S. in Biology with an Anatomy and Physiology emphasis along with a minor in Chemistry. I currently work at the University of Utah hospital as a HCA and as a Research Assistant in the Department of Neurology. Although I'm originally from the Bay Area, I have lived in Utah for the past 5 years and I have loved living close to the mountains, staying busy with hiking during the summer, and skiing during the winter. If you see me in the gym or on the mountain, come say hi!

Hello, my name is Ella Bleak. I'm currently pursuing an HSB in Biochemistry and a BS in Mathematics. I'm born and raised in Lehi, Utah. I am currently doing research in Dr. Talia Karasov's lab in the Biology Department. I love school and learning new things. After graduating from the U, I hope to pursue a PhD in a field related to biochemistry. In my free time, I love to read, play VR games, travel, and spend time with friends.

Hi! I'm Hephzibah, and I am pursuing a Biochemistry major with a possible double major in Sociology, and an honors integrated health minor. After graduating, I hope to attend medical school and become a neonatal surgeon. I was born and raised in Pakistan, so I hope to give back to communities in South Asia that lack adequate medical care and resources. Currently, I am working as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Werner's Lab, studying phenotypic plasticity as a result of environmental factors experienced during development in nematodes. I also serve as the secretary of the Pakistani Student Association here at the U. In my free time, I enjoy watching crime documentaries, going on long drives, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Hello! My name is Maggie, I am double majoring in Biology and Spanish Language. I am a second year student from California and I plan to pursue an M.D. after undergraduate and eventually have a surgical practice. I recently returned from studying at the Utah Asia Campus and plan to return for research before medical school, as well as study abroad in other countries. I like to spend my free time hanging out with friends in some type of outdoor activity (snow sports, hiking, football games, etc.). If not outside, I am working out, listening to music, or doing homework, or some combination of it all. Don't forget to say hi when you see me around campus!

Hello, my name is Mary Schaelling. I am pursuing an undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Nuclear Engineering where I can continue to immerse myself in my studies of all things nuclear. It is my goal to get a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, to one day work in the safety and security field for nuclear weapons and power sources. Outside of academics, I love attending concerts, meeting new people, and strolling through museums. I am thrilled to be a College of Science Ambassador, so please feel free to reach out or say hello if you see me on campus! I am here to help you find your place on campus, even if it isn't in the College of Science.

Hi! I'm Michelle and I'm from Denver, Colorado! As of Fall 2022 I will be going into my third year here at the U studying Biology with an Anatomy and Physiology emphasis and a Pediatric Clinical Research minor. After graduating, I hope to pursue an MD or MD-PhD. I am currently involved in research in the Yamaguchi biology lab where we study the neural basis of behavior using African clawed frogs and I am also a Resident Advisor in on-campus housing. When I have free time I enjoy dancing, painting, and going to the movie theaters.

Hi! My name is Sam Nestel and I am from Ogden, Utah. Here at the U, I am pursuing a Biology major with a possible minor in disability studies, math, or political science. After getting my degree, I want to go on to medical school to become a physician specializing in women’s health. I have loved many of my experiences here at the COS but my favorite has been participating as an undergraduate biology researcher studying metabolic phenotypic plasticity in nematodes. Outside of school I enjoy doing musical theatre, playing with cats, being outdoors, and meeting new people.